Major Clifford A Cramp

Major Clifford Cramp, 174967, Signals Platoon, 8th Parachute Battalion. Cramp was born in October 1913 to Edwin Arthur and Nellie Cramp, nee Parker, and attended Wyggeston Grammar School. He joined the Leicestershire Regiment, but on the 7th September 1941 was posted to the 13th Battalion The Royal Warwickshire Regiment as their Signals Officer. In November 1942, this battalion was converted to the Airborne role and became the 8th Parachute Battalion. Cramp completed parachute course 44 at RAF Ringway in January 1943.

Cramp served in Normandy and was killed on the 21st August 1944, when a rocket projectile struck Battalion Headquarters. The war diary notes: "the enemy put over a new rocket shell estimated from an unexploded shell found later to be 25cm. One of these fell onto Bn HQ, killing the Sigs Offr, Int Sgt. and 4 signallers, wounding 6 other men." Private John Russell of "C" Company wrote: "There was a sudden "Whoosh! Whoosh!" from the German lines as two rocket mortars were fired. The projectiles passed overhead & exploded loudly to our rear. The Bn Signals Section beside the road "copped" it & were practically "wiped out". Major Cramp of Signals Platoon was one of those killed. Those rockets didn't sound like the big "Moaning Minnies" we'd had on Jun 16th when 346 Div had paid a visit." Aged 31, Major Cramp was laid to rest in the Ranville Cemetery, plot IVA.K.14. Copyright: Ann Yeldon, Ian Cramp.

Taken on the day of his wedding to Eva Bell, June 1939. Copyright: Ann Yeldon, Ian Cramp.

Copyright: Ann Yeldon, Ian Cramp.